An ancient Sienese vine abandoned for over a century returns to new life and will be the protagonist of a Forum to be held Friday 1 February at Fattoria del Colle, in Trequanda (SI) edited by Donatella Cinelli Colombini, landlady and architect of the rediscovery of this ancient vine that has returned to interest the market and the experts.
Foglia tonda was widespread in southern Tuscany and perhaps in Umbria from time immemorial. Di Rovasenda (1877), in the "Essay for a universal ampelography" describes the Round Leaf in Brolio Castle. Breviglieri and Casini (1964) refer it to Chianti. More recently it has been identified in the historic vineyards inside the walls of Siena with the "Senarum Vinea" project (2007-2012)
Since 1970, Foglia Tonda has been registered in the National Register of Vine Varieties and in 1978 it was approved by the University of Florence.
It was abandoned about a century ago when its vigor gave the poor peasants of the time so many unripe grapes.
The most characterizing thing is the practically circular leaf resembling a small frying pan. The bunches are quite large, compact and pyramidal, sometimes winged. The berries are ovoid with a prominent navel and a very pruinose blue skin.
Its major flaw is fertility: it produces an excessive amount of grapes. Its advantage is its resistance to downy mildew, botrytis and, in part, to powdery mildew. It is slightly later than Sangiovese in budding, flowering, veraison and obviously ripening.
«We found 18 wineries producing Foglia Tonda and 9 of them, from very different areas of Tuscany, responded to our invitation. The forum allows a group of experts and influencers to learn more about the specifics of Foglia tonda in the different expressions of terroir and style» explains the journalist and taster Gianni Fabrizio who will guide the organoleptic tasting of three wines obtained from single-variety Foglia Tonda, of which the first ones aged in amphora will allow a better understanding of the specificities of the fruit and two in blends will give the opportunity to evaluate the potential of Foglia Tonda as a partner of Sangiovese, a vine prince of Tuscany. The other four wines for tasting will be served directly by their creators with the around the table method.
Participants in the forum: Sequerciani farm (Gavorrano GR), Podere Ema (Grassina FI), mocines (Asciano SI), The Castellaccio (Castagneto Carducci LI), Donatella Cinelli Colombini (Trequanda YES), Mammuccini Droandi New Agriculture (Montevarchi AR), Farm Anima Mundi (Casciana Terme PI), Santa Vittoria (Foiano della Chiana AR), Poggio al Vento Mascelloni (Castiglion d'Orcia SI).
In the opinion of Gianni Fabrizio «The Foglia Tonda produces wines of considerable polyphenolic richness, characterized by a marked acidity and a good vocation to ageing». About the future of the vine «it must be understood whether its vocation is to live its own life or to become a privileged partner of Sangiovese in absolutely autochthonous Super Tuscans».
That of February XNUMX underlines Donatella Cinelli Colombini.is an important appointment also for producers who have the opportunity to compare experiences and observations, facilitating the path towards qualitative excellence. «A different way of relating to today's aggressive world, but which refers to the most ancient and true winegrowing culture»
Foglia tonda wines are dark garnet red in colour. On the nose they are intense, with hints of violets, small fruits and dried plums. In the mouth they are full and full-bodied. Suitable for ageing. And here are the first assessments by Paolo Storchi and Luigi Fabbrini who in the ARSIA project "Adaptation of the Regional Ampelographic Platform" 1997-2002 were the first to identify the differences in this vine. "Round leaf obtained with grapes from the Grosseto area has the highest values of total polyphenols and flavones, while the wine produced with Valdichiana grapes is more colorful and rich in anthocyanins".
